This is what hospice care makes possible. Pain and distress can take everything: the conversations, the laughter, the chance to simply be together. When these symptoms are managed, a family gets their loved one back, for a little while longer. And for families facing their last Christmas together, a little while is everything.

A Heart-breaking Year For Hospice Care

The last year has not been easy. Hospices across the country are facing a funding crisis unlike anything I have seen in my career. Due to pressures of rising costs, inflation and government funding that hasn’t kept pace, according to Hospice UK, nearly six in ten hospices have made or are considering cuts to frontline services.

Isabel Hospice has not been immune to these pressures. Last December, we had to make the most painful decision in our history: closing our solely charity-funded Living Well, Compassionate Communities, and Children’s Services. We made this choice to protect the core specialist palliative and end-of-life care services that families like Catherine and Cynthia’s rely on.

This Christmas, some local families are facing their final weeks together. They need expert clinical care, dignity, and relief from pain so they can focus on what truly matters: making happy memories in the time they have left. There are very few gifts that matter more.

I know this is an expensive time of year, and that many households are feeling it. But, if you are able, please give a gift today to support Isabel Hospice once again. Because of you, a family could spend their final Christmas together making memories they’ll treasure forever, rather than watching someone they love suffer.

If you would like to give a gift, you can do so by using the donation form below, or by calling our supporter care team on 01707954850.

Isabel Hospice is kept going by the people of eastern Hertfordshire, neighbours looking after neighbours at the hardest time of their lives. Thank you for being one of them.

With heartfelt thanks and warm wishes for Christmas and the new year,

Andy Kilduff
Director of Clinical Services
Isabel Hospice

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So, when Mum asked me round one day and broke the news that she had colon cancer, I was in shock. I couldn’t breathe. It didn’t seem fair that this could happen to someone so wonderful.

Mum started chemotherapy, but it was a long, painful journey that took a huge toll on her. Over two years, we watched our happy-go-lucky mum, who loved life so much, become a shadow of who she once was.

We cared for her ourselves for as long as we could. Then, in December, she suddenly got much worse. Her symptoms became more than we could manage on our own. Mum was determined to be at home for Christmas, but we didn’t know how we could give her that.

That’s when Mum’s doctor referred her to Isabel Hospice.

I’ve run the London Marathon twice for Isabel Hospice to try to pay them back for what they did for us, and one day I’ll run it again.

When a family is going through something like this, it is the worst time of their lives. It’s not something any family can get through alone, and no family should have to.

Isabel Hospice went out of their way to make our Mum’s wish come true. This Christmas, other local families will be hoping for the same thing: one more Christmas together.

If you are able to, please make a donation to the Isabel Hospice Last Christmas Appeal today. Your gift could help another parent, grandparent, son or daughter come downstairs on Christmas Day, and give another family a memory to hold on to forever.

Thank you,

Matt

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